Enrique Gil shares businesses, investments built during 'peaceful' showbiz hiatus

MANILA, Philippines — Actor Enrique Gil is making his showbiz comeback with the comedy movie "I Am Not Big Bird," nearly four years since he graced screens both big and small.

Enrique appeared on the February 12 episode of "Magandang Buhay" where he shared the things he did during the pandemic and his time away from the entertainment limelight.

One of the show's hosts Regine Velasquez pointed out a lot of people took a while to bounce back from the pandemic, asking Enrique why he took his time.

"I think I just really enjoyed time at home. I gave basically half of my whole life dito sa showbiz," Enrique said. "[It was] very weird, from such a hectic life to just quiet and peace. But I was really at peace, parang I was hanging on to it, I didn't want it to end."

The actor added that his sister Frances migrated to Spain and his older brother Javier moved out, so the time they spent together felt just right before they went their separate ways plus the realization that his mother Barbara was getting older.

Melai Cantiveros-Francisco praised Enrique for keeping the family close, then Jolina Magdangal asked the actor what kept him busy during his hiatus.

Enrique shared that he and Barbara invested in properties (building and selling houses), the ticketing company Ticket2Me, and the production company Immerse Entertainment, which co-produced "I Am Not Big Bird."

"I enjoyed doing nothing... I'm a homebody, I just really like my peace and quiet," he added.

Then Regine asked what realizations and future plans did the hiatus bestow on him.

Apart from having his own family and settling down, Enrique reiterated enjoying the private life he had, which led to him and his mother consider moving to Tagaytay and buying a piece of farmland, joking he became a "plantito" who was also into animals.

"It just made me realize what matters most, my family. I did this for my family, so I can sustain them," Enrique continued. "The environment wasn't really toxic, it was so good for my mental health and everything."

Regine then brought up romantic endeavors, a recent hot topic with several speculations that Enrique and longtime partner Liza Soberano are no longer together despite neither